Australia 19-27 British & Irish Lions: first Test – as it happened

Andy Farrell’s Lions eased to victory in the first Test, leading 24-5 before Australia rallied to make the score respectable

The crowd count us down and Finn Russell boots the test series under way.

Officials for this match:

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Television Match Official (TMO): Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

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Captain Harry Wilson backs Wallabies to surprise British & Irish Lions in first Test

  • Australia’s No 8 says team will try to ‘win every moment’ on Saturday

  • Nick Champion de Crespigny and Tom Lynagh come into injury-depleted squad

Australia captain Harry Wilson said the Wallabies were confident of beating the British & Irish Lions in the first Test at Lang Park on Saturday despite being heavy underdogs after losing several key players to injury.

The Wallabies have won only four of their last 11 Tests and on Saturday will be without regular fly-half Noah Lolesio and their best Test player of the last two years, loose forward Rob Valetini.

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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii learns from Origin pain before renewing hostilities with Lions

  • Wallabies star plays down feud with Sione Tuipulotu

  • 21-year-old was sent off in State of Origin debut for NSW Blues

Wallabies gun Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has avoided throwing fuel on the fire ahead of a possible spicy rematch with British and Irish Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu in Saturday’s opening Test in Brisbane

The star league recruit and the Melbourne-raised Scotland captain had to be separated in a skirmish in their first meeting at Murrayfield last November.

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Australia 21-18 Fiji: international rugby union Test – as it happened

Wallabies survive scare from surging Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle

Out stride the two teams, side by side, accompanied by mascots. The visitors are wearing white jerseys and black shorts, the hosts are wearing their First Nations jersey, which is predominately gold, with green accents to match the green shorts.

Angus Fontaine puts it all into context for the Wallabies.

Adventurous attack. Bone-rattling defence. Mistakes punished and opportunities seized. Get in the enemy’s faces and bring the crowd into the contest from the get-go. A ragtag NSW Waratahs gave Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies a bold blueprint for how to dismantle the British & Irish Lions in the first Test on 19 July.

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David Porecki returns to Wallabies team to face Fiji after 643-day international absence

  • Hooker to partner James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in front row

  • Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returns after recovering from broken jaw

The Wallabies have opted for experience in their front row to face Fiji this weekend, with former captain David Porecki called back into the team, 643 days since he last pulled on a gold jersey.

Porecki, 32, was named on Friday in the starting XV for Sunday’s Test in Newcastle, alongside all-time cap record holder James Slipper and 80-Test tighthead Allan Alaalatoa, in a forward pack missing big guns Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries.

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